Star Thrust 2 ch. 1

1. Mirror, Mirror

Captain’s Log, Number 9892-603. Time: 0515 hrs.

I have to confess I’m recording this from bed a bit earlier than usual. I was just summoned to the bridge early and I’m not particularly happy about it. It’s been a quiet few days, which means I finally had time to schedule a group session with some of the cadets, who’ve been patiently waiting for my availability. Well, I accomplished what I set out to over the course of the last 8 hours, but I was hoping to sleep in until seven, but Commander Rem just called. It appears that we’ve encountered something anomalous that requires my orders.

I’m sure whatever this is about is important. I just wish it could have waited another hour or two. In any case, it’ll probably turn out to be just a routine scan, nothing unusual.

Computer, end recording.

***

The comm chirped again, and Hawke groaned into his pillow.

“Captain, your presence is required on the bridge,” Galadria’s voice repeated through the speaker. “I would not have disturbed you if this were not a matter of genuine scientific interest.”

“I’m coming, Commander.” He pushed himself up and swung his legs over the side of the bed, and every muscle in his body protested the gesture. They’d been going since the night before, and his… everything was sore. The movement disturbed the pile of warm female bodies around him, and a chorus of sleepy protests rose from the sheets.

“Nooo,” Cadet Thol whined. Her green Qarthi skin almost glowed in the room’s low artificial lighting as she reached for him, squeezing her hand in grasping gestures. “You can’t leave now, Captain. We were supposed to do three more rounds before breakfast.”

“Breakfast and the other thing will have to wait, Cadet.” Hawke stood and started hunting for his pants, stepping over discarded uniform heels and an empty bottle of Qarthi lubricating oil.

Cadet Kolss propped herself up on one elbow as her gills fluttered with displeasure. “But it took three days for us to coordinate our schedules. You promised us until 0800, sir. We need your touch. Eight hours isn’t enough.”

This was one ravenous ship. “I understand,” Hawke muttered. “All the same, I have to get to the bridge. Commander Rem herself called for me.”

“That was probably on purpose. Commander Rem almost never lets us have you,” Cadet Vex added as her white Jexian eyes blinked at him sleepily. There were bite marks on her shoulder that Hawke vaguely remembered leaving around 0300.

Hawke found his pants draped over a chair and started pulling them on. “I’m aware, believe me. But this is the nature of working aboard a Confederation ship, cadets. Schedules are always overridden by emergencies and unexpected events. I’ll do my best to find a slot for you and some of the other cadets in the next week.”

From the center of the pile, Cadet Arweni sat up with her spine ramrod straight even at this ungodly hour. Her sharp, inhumanly green Vultarian eyes were alert and her voice was completely level when she spoke, true to her kind. “We must be stealthy and vigilant in our scheduling. Commander Rem does not approve of anyone but her sleeping in the Captain’s quarters. I will work on a ruse that will keep her on overnight shift and unable to block us.”

The other three cadets turned to beam at her gratefully.

Hawke pulled on his uniform jacket and sealed it. The cadets watched him with varying faces full of disappointment, ranging from Thol’s exaggerated pout to Arweni’s subtle tightening around the eyes that he’d learned to recognize as the closest thing a Vultarian did to sulking.

“I’ll make it up to you all eventually,” he promised as he headed for the door. “Somehow.”

“You could take that pill Doctor Vess made that multiples your seed volume,” Thol suggested.

Hawke laughed. “Yeah, that’s not happening. The pounds and pounds of body weight I lose after just two days on that pill are staggering to behold and not worth the effort. I’m already enhanced well beyond the norm.” He palmed the door control and stepped out into the corridor before they could argue further. “At ease, Cadets. To your stations by 0800.”

"Nothing inside feels easy without you, Captain,” Kolss pouted as he departed.

***

The turbolift dropped him on the bridge a few minutes later, and Hawke found himself wondering what uniform rotation the crew would be wearing today. Please not the fully nude one, he thought. Nothing ever got done on those days. Between the constant visual distraction and Galadria’s tendency to “accidentally” brush against him every time she passed his chair, nude uniform days usually devolved into impromptu orgies by 1100 hours that ended up taking the remainder of their work hours.

The doors slid open and he stepped through.

Relief washed over him when he saw the G-string bikini uniforms. These were the most conservative option in this week’s current rotation, which was saying something about how far things had drifted from Star Force standard dress code. The tiny triangles of fabric covered the essentials while leaving almost everything else on display, with the Star Force insignia badge pinned over the left breast. More importantly, these were the only uniforms that weren’t currently crotchless, which meant things tended to stay more professional when they were in play.

Small victories, he inwardly reflected with a wide grin on his face.

“Captain on the bridge,” D’ala announced from the helm.

The bridge crew turned to greet him, and as had become an odd custom over the past few months, each officer rushed over to plant a quick kiss on his lips before returning to their station. Shayden’s was particularly aggressive today, which he guessed meant that she was hoping he’d sneak in some alone time with her when he could. Moxie’s was barely more than a nervous brush, and D’ala’s lingered just a moment too long until Galadria cleared her throat pointedly.

Hawke gave her a chaste peck, then made his way to his captain’s chair and sat down. “Alright, Commander. What was so important that it couldn’t wait until 0800?”

Galadria walked over and attempted to casually lower herself into his lap while answering. “We have detected an anomaly approximately two thousand kilometers off our port bow.”

He caught her by the waist and held her up before she could settle, keeping her suspended in the air. Galadria did not acknowledge the rejection and acted like this was a completely standard way to deliver an urgent briefing. To be fair, at this point, it more or less was.

“What kind of anomaly are we dealing with?” he asked.

“That is what makes this discovery particularly interesting.” She still didn’t acknowledge being held aloft as her wiggling posterior sought his lap and just continued speaking as though she were standing at her console. “Initial scans show signatures consistent with a Class D wormhole, but when we probe deeper, we receive a reflected scan of our own vessel.”

“Interesting indeed.” Hawke set her down when her rump stopped shaking and she walked back to her station without missing a beat, pulling up a sensor display.

Hawke turned to look at the viewscreen, where a shimmering distortion hung in space. It looked like someone had taken a piece of reality and crinkled it slightly, creating an area where the stars behind it appeared warped but duplicated.

D’ala swiveled in her chair. “Aye, sir. And here’s the weird part. The reflected scan isn’t quite accurate. There are minute differences compared to what we’d typically expect from our ship’s composition.”

“Differences how?” Hawke asked, leaning forward.

“Variations in power signatures, structural compositions, even crew biosigns,” Moxie chimed in from her science station. “It’s like looking at a photograph of yourself, but you’ve got a pierced ear and a goatee all of a sudden.”

Hawke’s brow furrowed. “I’m not certain I follow your meaning, Ensign.”

Shayden crossed her arms over her chest. “To put it straight, sir, my working theory is we’ve found a mirror shard.”

The bridge went quiet for a moment as everyone processed the suggestion. Hawke had heard stories about mirror shards during his academy days, but he’d never expected to encounter one personally. They were supposed to be incredibly rare, especially after the divergence.

“I concur with this hypothesis. We are likely staring at a portal to the Mirror Reality,” Galadria confirmed. “As you are likely aware, Captain, the Mirror Reality is a documented parallel dimension whose history proceeded as something of a dark parody of our own. Events in both universes historically lined up in such a way that our mirror counterparts were always at an equivalent place and time, and each individual in our universe had a counterpart there.”

“I’m well aware, Commander,” Hawke said. “But that was before the divergence. Star Force’s first few encounters with Mirror Reality vessels created paradoxes and caused the two realities to start splitting apart. I thought synchronized appearances like this stopped happening years ago.”

“As did we,” Galadria replied. “Which is why Star Force Command will certainly want to know about this encounter. However, we will need to confirm the nature of the anomaly first and establish contact if possible.”

“That’s risky.” Hawke studied the shimmering distortion on the viewscreen. “We don’t know the intentions of those on the other end of the wormhole.”

D’ala shook her head. “Actually, sir, it might be safer than you think. Both sides have always been extremely careful not to endanger their counterpart ships. Cross-dimensional complications are no joke.”

“She’s right,” Shayden added. “The only recorded instances of someone from one reality killing their mirror counterpart resulted in the killer dying within days. Even post-divergence, that rule appears to hold. Nobody here or there will want to test it.”

Moxie’s antennae perked up suddenly. “Captain, we’re being hailed.”

Hawke sat up straighter. “From inside the anomaly? As in—by us?”

“Yes, sir. Audio and visual.”

He took a breath and adjusted his uniform jacket. “Put that handsome bastard on screen. And make sure the projection array is online so they don’t see your actual uniforms.”

Galadria’s fingers moved across her console. “Projection array active, Captain. They will see us in standard Star Force dress.”

“Good. Engage.”

The viewscreen flickered, and Captain Randal Hawke found himself staring at… Captain Randal Hawke.

Well, a version of him anyway. This Hawke had a glorious, curly mullet. A magnificent, flowing mullet that cascaded past his shoulders in waves of perfectly maintained hair, shimmering radiantly with an elegance that defied mortal description. The bridge behind him was darker, moodier, with red accent lighting that gave everything a more warlike aesthetic.

Hawke immediately considered growing a mullet of his own. It looked downright majestic.

Mirror Hawke stood from his captain’s chair, shook out his lustrous hair, and offered a formal nod. “Captain Hawke of the U.S.S. Brock Clayton. I am Captain Hawke of the I.S.S. Brock Clayton. It appears we’ve found ourselves in an interesting situation.”

“It appears we have,” Hawke replied, trying not to stare jealously at the mullet. “I have to admit, I didn’t expect to encounter a mirror shard. I thought these kinds of synchronized appearances stopped after the divergence.”

“As did we.” Mirror Hawke clasped his hands behind his back. “We were conducting a routine sector scan when our sensors detected this anomaly. Given the circumstances, it seemed stranger not to reach out than to simply ignore each other.”

Hawke gave a slow nod. He was studying the mirror bridge now, taking in the differences. The uniforms over there were darker, more militaristic, though Mirror Hawke’s was almost identical to his own except for being short-sleeved. The consoles had sharper angles and the whole aesthetic screamed “we’re the evil versions” in a way that was almost comical.

Then Mirror Galadria walked across the background of the shot, and Hawke’s attention snapped to her immediately.

She was wearing a uniform that showed a little midriff.

It wasn’t nearly as scandalous as his crew’s real uniforms, but it was interesting. The more he looked at it, though, the more realized that that was probably just the Mirror Reality’s standard female attire. The woman herself wore a cold expression and her body language suggested she found her captain pretty unappealing.

He wondered if they might secretly have similar missions.

“In any case,” Hawke said, pulling his focus back to his counterpart, “we mean no harm. I understand your version of Star Force tends to be more militarized, but I trust you know better than to try anything with your own dimensional counterpart.”

Mirror Hawke’s expression hardened slightly at the word “militarized,” but he nodded. “You’re correct. And more importantly, a small science vessel like ours has no place picking fights. We’re researchers, not warships. You have little to fear from us.”

“Same here.” Hawke gestured toward his bridge crew. “I’m curious. Do we have the same bridge crew complement?”

Mirror Hawke turned and beckoned his officers forward. “Let’s find out.”

Both crews lined up in view of the screen, and Hawke started doing a comparison that was equal parts fascinating and unsettling.

Mirror Moxani stepped forward first, and she seemed nothing like his shy, nervous science officer save for her basic appearance. This version had taut, wiry muscles visible beneath her uniform and an eyepatch over her left eye. She stood with her arms crossed and a confident smirk on her face, giving off the air of a hardened killer.

Mirror Galadria moved into frame next. Her hair was much longer than his Galadria’s, falling nearly to her waist, and her expression when she looked at Mirror Hawke could only be interpreted as thinly veiled disgust. Whatever their relationship was, it clearly wasn’t the obsessive devotion that characterized his first officer’s feelings toward him. For the first time since meeting his counterpart and his superb hair, he felt he might have an advantage over him.

Mirror Shayden wore more metal studs in her uniform than his version, with additional piercings along her brow ridges that gave her an even more intimidating appearance. Otherwise, she looked similar, with the same fierce eyes, same warrior’s posture, same battle-maiden pigtails.

Mirror D’ala was the biggest surprise. Where his D’ala was bubbly and flirtatious, her counterpart stood like she had a metal rod fused to her spine, and was wearing a conservative turtleneck variant uniform that showed zero skin below the neck. Her face was stern, almost harsh, and Hawke couldn’t imagine this version ever cracking a joke or playfully teasing her captain.

“Remarkable,” Mirror Hawke said, studying Hawke’s crew through whatever projection they were seeing. “The similarities are striking, though I notice some variance in demeanor.”

Hawke smirked. “I was thinking the same thing.”

Mirror Hawke stroked his chin thoughtfully. “This is too valuable a scientific opportunity to simply exchange pleasantries and part ways. The fact that we’ve encountered each other at all, after the divergence, raises questions that both our Star Forces will want answered.”

Hawke considered that. “What did you have in mind?”

“I propose a brief exchange. My bridge crew beams aboard your vessel to conduct comparative scans, while I remain here to monitor the anomaly and run parallel analyses. If we study both ships simultaneously, perhaps we can determine why this synchronized appearance occurred in the first place.”

It was a reasonable proposal from a scientific standpoint. Hawke considered the risks. His counterpart had a point about mutual assured destruction keeping both sides honest. Nobody wanted to find out what happened when you killed your dimensional double, and no one had anything to gain from such a betrayal.

“I’d prefer my bridge crew stay close at hand,” Hawke said. “But I can send a few ensigns from engineering over, and a few more from my team can guide your team through the ship.”

“Acceptable.” Mirror Hawke nodded. “I’ll brief our crew and await your team’s arrival.”

“Agreed. Hawke out.”

The screen flickered back to the view of the anomaly, and Hawke exhaled slowly. D’ala was the first to speak. “Sir, did you see his mullet?”

“I saw it.”

“Are you going to grow one?”

Hawke ran a hand through his own hair, which suddenly felt very inadequate. “I’m considering it.”

“Please don’t,” Galadria said flatly. “I loathe that detestable thing.”

“Commander,” Hawke said, deciding to change the subject, “contact engineering and have them send Ensign Hissia and Ensign Navara to meet the mirror crew in the transporter room. And make sure everyone on the ship knows to wear standard uniforms until our guests leave.”

Galadria’s eyes narrowed slightly. “You wish to conceal our primary mission from our counterparts.”

“I wish to not have to explain why my entire crew is dressed like they work at a strip club, yes.”

“A logical precaution,” she admitted, bobbing her head slightly. “I will ensure the crew is informed.”

***

The tour went smoothly for the first forty-five minutes.

Ensign Navara led the mirror crew through the main corridors while Ensign Hissia handled the technical explanations. They hit engineering first, then the science labs, then the medical bay where Doctor Vess answered questions about their research equipment in that drawling, matter-of-fact way she had.

The mirror crew ran their scans at each stop, recording data and comparing notes with their own vessel’s specifications. Mirror Galadria in particular was thorough, studying every system like she was expecting to find flaws everywhere she looked.

Mirror Moxani was the opposite, appearing almost bored by the whole affair. She kept one hand resting close to the laz-pistol at her hip and looked like she’d rather be doing literally anything else. Mirror Karra stayed alert but quiet, while Mirror Yeshka took meticulous notes on a datapad.

Everything was professional. Everything was by the book. This was turning out to be, as he’d hoped, fairly uneventful, all things considered, even despite the strange and rare nature of the encounter.

And then they passed the captain’s quarters just as one of his cadets emerged from inside.

She was wearing her G-string bikini uniform.

The door slid open and there she was, all petite curves and barely-there fabric, ears wiggling in surprise when she found herself face to face with four armed mirror universe officers.

“Oh!” Her tail flicked nervously. “I’m so sorry! I fell asleep after you left, Captain, and—I didn’t know we had company so early!”

The mirror crew stared at her. Then they stared at Ensign Navara, who was wearing a standard uniform. Then back at the cadet, whose Star Force insignia was positioned over a tiny triangle of fabric that was technically covering her nipple.

Mirror Galadria’s eyes narrowed. “What exactly is the uniform code on this vessel?”

Navara opened her mouth to answer but nothing came out except a whimpering croak. The cadet just raced off down the corridor, and no one stopped her.

“Our vessel has an… atypical uniform rotation,” Navara finally managed.

“Clearly.” Mirror Galadria’s tone was icy hot as she turned her gaze on Hawke, who was not sure how to handle the situation. “I would like to speak with your captain and first officer alone.”

The tour went on, but the three of them reconvened in a small conference room adjacent to the bridge. Hawke sat at one end of the table with his Galadria standing beside him, while Mirror Galadria sat at the opposite end with her arms crossed. The other mirror officers were continuing their tour and scans with the engineering ensigns, leaving the three of them alone.

“Before we proceed any further about the uniform you witnessed,” Galadria said as each word grew softer and yet more frigid, “I require clarification on one matter. What is the reason your vessel has a crew consisting primarily of female officers and only one male?”

Mirror Galadria’s expression didn’t change. “That is classified information that even very few admirals have access to.”

“As is much of what occurs on this vessel,” Galadria replied. “However, given what your team just seen, we appear to be in a situation where transparency may be mutually beneficial.”

The two semi-identical Vultarians stared at each other for a long moment. Hawke felt like he was watching a chess match without a board.

Finally, Mirror Galadria spoke. “Our Captain Hawke possesses genetic markers that make him an ideal test subject for Project Genesis. Most of our officers are science officers who synthesize injections for our Captain Hawke using their own DNA. His blood chemistry is uniquely suited to this mission. One day, it is theorized that we may be able to use his genetic material to create test hybrid tube babies..”

Hawke’s eyebrows rose. “So your ship is basically a mobile research lab?”

“Essentially. The crew is primarily female because the research requires frequent collection of biological samples from both the Captain and potential gestational candidates. Blood draws, fertility analyses, genetic comparisons.” She paused. “It is tedious but scientifically valuable work.”

Galadria exchanged a glance with Hawke. Hawke cringed a little as he realized that there had been a less horny way for them to undertake the exact same mission all along. Still, he wasn’t exactly about to complain.

“In our universe,” Galadria said slowly, sensing his reluctance, “the missions is similar, but things are somewhat… different.”

Mirror Galadria waited.

“Our mission also involves cross-species hybridization research. However, rather than blood samples and laboratory analysis, our methodology requires...” She paused, as if searching for the most medically neutral way to phrase it. “Regular copulation between the captain and all female crew members.”

The silence that followed was a deep and profound one. It was the sort of silence Hawke imagined preceded the creation of the universe.

Mirror Galadria’s expression shifted through several micro-changes that Hawke had learned to read as shock, disbelief, and then confusion. Finally, she spoke.

“I believe the most apt Terran expression for that revelation is ‘what the fuck.’”

Hawke laughed, unable to help himself. “An apt colloquialism for the occasion, Commander, and likely one I used a few times on the day I was offered the mission. But it is very real.”

His Galadria was not amused, however. “It is no joke. The serum our captain was injected with requires biological integration through repeated intimate contact,” she explained a bit defensively. “It is very effective and actively adapting his genetic material to be compatible with multiple species. The results thus far have been promising to say the least.”

“They installed subdermal plating in my penis to protect against tight alien vaginas,” Hawke muttered, all humor gone for the moment. “I’ve seen and felt things you wouldn’t believe.”

Mirror Galadria leaned back in her chair. “And the uniforms?”

“A morale initiative meant to inspire the Captain and keep him aroused and primed for the mission at all times,” Galadria said flatly.

“It does indeed inspire me to certain ends,” he muttered darkly.

“I see.” Mirror Galadria was quiet for a moment, processing. Her eyes moved between Hawke and Galadria with a sharpness that reminded him very much of his own first officer when she was working through a complex problem. “In our reality, I find Captain Hawke’s presence... tolerable at best. He is an adequate captain but lacks warmth. Our interactions are purely professional. I can’t imagine being asked to copulate with him.”

Galadria cocked her head a fraction, then rested her hand on Hawke’s shoulder. “That is most unfortunate. Our version of Captain Hawke is an exceptional commanding officer and an even more exceptional intimate partner. He is supportive, professional, affectionate, and ready to drop all personal matters in defense of any crew. He is the perfect man.”

Hawke felt his face warm slightly. “Commander, you may be a little biased, so—”

“I am merely stating the facts as I see them, Captain.” Galadria’s tone brooked no argument. “Your performance in all relevant metrics exceeds expectations.”

Mirror Galadria studied her counterpart with renewed interest. “You seem unusually... attached to him.”

Galadria seemed to preen a little. “Of course. I should be. I am his future wife,” she stated matter-of-factly.

“I’m not sure that’s been officially—” Hawke started.

“It has been decided,” Galadria cut him off. “The formalities are irrelevant.”

Mirror Galadria’s long hair shifted as she leaned forward. “I confess I find this difficult to conceptualize. In my experience, Vultarian-Terran romantic attachments are rare and typically unsatisfying for both parties. We are too different, emotionally and physiologically.”

“Perhaps in your reality.” Galadria moved closer to Hawke’s chair, and her hand came to rest on his shoulder again in a gesture that was a little possessive. “In ours, I have found the experience to be quite fulfilling.”

Mirror Galadria’s eyes changed. It was a look of curiosity, maybe. Wonder, perhaps? “I admit I am... scientifically intrigued by your claims. The physiological differences between our realities should be minimal, which suggests your compatibility is a personal matter. Perhaps experimenting with your methodology just once might yield interesting results for my own consideration.”

Hawke recognized that tone. He’d heard it from his own Galadria dozens of times, usually right before she proposed some new “experiment” that ended with both of them naked. His penis flailed preemptively in his uniform slacks.

“If you’re suggesting what I think you’re suggesting,” he said carefully, “I want to point out that there could be serious cross-dimensional complications, especially with you two interacting with each other so closely.”

Both Vultarians turned to look at him, cocking their heads in opposite angles.

“Actually, Captain, the literature on mirror reality interactions suggests that sexual contact between dimensional counterparts carries minimal risk,” Galadria said. 

“You just made that up. No one has done that study.”

“I extrapolated from available data.” Galadria didn’t blink. “The conclusion is sound.”

Mirror Galadria stood slowly from her chair. “I find myself in agreement with my counterpart’s reasoning. Additionally, as a scientist, I have an obligation to gather comparative data when presented with a unique research opportunity.” She paused, and her eyes narrowed ever-so-slightly. “And I confess a certain... curiosity about your tactics.”

Hawke looked between the two Vultarians, both about as gorgeous as a women could be with their pale skin, electric blue eyes, worshipable curves, and ghostly white hair. How often was he going to get a chance like this? They were both staring at him now with expressions that he recognized all too well. It was one that Galadria made all the time when she found an excuse for him to rail her mid-shift.

Except now there were two of them.

“This is highly irregular,” he said weakly, penis jerking in his pants like the wriggling body of a Kandorian rock snake.

“Many aspects of your mission are highly irregular,” Mirror Galadria pointed out. “What is one more irregularity?”

Galadria’s hand slid from his shoulder down to his chest. “The captain’s quarters are nearby and currently unoccupied, as the cadets should all be on duty by now.”

Hawke nodded. “True, but I really don’t think—”

“Captain.” Galadria’s voice dropped to that lower register that always made his resistance waver. “Consider this a diplomatic mission. We are building bridges between realities.”

Mirror Galadria moved around the table toward them, her long hair swaying as she padded closer. “My counterpart makes a compelling point. Cross-dimensional cooperation could yield valuable insights for both our Star Forces.”

Hawke was on his feet before he’d made a conscious decision to stand. “When you put it that way...”

***

They barely made it through the door of his quarters before Mirror Galadria’s hands were on him.

She kissed differently than his Galadria. Where his first officer was intense and consuming, her counterpart was more exploratory, more clumsy and curious, like she was cataloging every sensation and comparing it to her expectations in real time. Her waist-length platinum hair fell around them and tickled his arms, and when she pulled back there was genuine surprise in those stark blue eyes.

“Fascinating,” she breathed. “The physical sensations you are providing are significantly more pronounced than I admit I anticipated.”

“You will find that your expectations will be challenged at every step of this interaction.” His Galadria moved in from behind her counterpart, sliding her petite body against Mirror Galadria’s back. Her hands wrapped around from behind to cup the other woman’s breasts through the uniform fabric. “You have been deprived of proper stimulation. Allow us to demonstrate our techniques.”

Mirror Galadria’s breath hitched. “That is... acceptable.”

He was surprised at how flexible Galadria was being today. Maybe it was just the fact that she was going to have some fun time with Hawke in the middle of the day with someone who would soon be returning to her own reality, never to be seen again that had her on her best behavior. 

In any case, watching his Galadria kiss her dimensional double was possibly the most surreal and arousing thing Hawke had ever witnessed—in the last twenty-four hours. Last night he did see four naked cadets try to wrestle-suck his cum out of Arweni’s mouth, and that was a tough act to follow. 

The two Vultarians moved together in near-perfect sync, their similar heights and petite builds making them almost interchangeable from certain angles. His cock was already straining against his pants, and he knew it wouldn’t be able to stay confined in there for long. He watched reverently as his Galadria’s platinum bob brushed against her counterpart’s much longer hair as their mouths met, tongues visibly sliding together.

“The uniform is obstructing and impeding the necessary escalation of this encounter,” Galadria murmured sultrily as she could against her double’s lips. She began unfastening the clasps of Mirror Galadria’s midriff-baring top. “Allow me.”

The fabric fell away and Hawke got his first look at Mirror Galadria’s tits. They were identical to his Galadria’s—round, heavy, and substantial on her small frame, with pale nipples that were already hardened pebbles. His Galadria immediately cupped them from behind, rolling those nipples between her fingers as she locked her blue eyes on Hawke as he spectated.

“Ah.” Mirror Galadria’s composure cracked slightly. “That is... I do not understand how...”

“You will understand much more before we are finished.” Galadria’s stark blue eyes met Hawke’s over her counterpart’s shoulder. “Captain. I suggest you remove your clothing. It is time to show her what she has been deprived of.”

Hawke stripped quickly, tossing his uniform aside. When he turned back, both Galadrias were watching his cock with identical expressions of interest. His Galadria had seen it hundreds of times by now, but the look on her face betrayed her adoration nonetheless—but only if you knew how to read Vultarian faces.

“The physical specifications are similar to our version,” Mirror Galadria noted. “Though I confess I have never observed Captain Hawke in this state. I have only read the dimensions in his mission profile.”

“You will likely find that our captain differs in more ways than you’re expecting.” Galadria pushed her counterpart toward the bed. “Lie down. Observe.”

Mirror Galadria settled onto the mattress, her long hair spreading out across the pillows in a messy golden storm. Galadria climbed over her and got on all fours. She stared back at Hawke with a dark look. “Captain. Fuck me while she watches.”

He didn’t need to be told twice. He positioned himself behind his first officer, gripping her pale hips, and pushed into her in one smooth stroke. She was already soaking wet, her pussy gripping him tight as he bottomed out inside her.

“Nyahh!” Galadria moaned, arching her back. She braced her hands on either side of Mirror Galadria’s head and looked down at her counterpart. “This is what you have been denied. Do you see? Do you see the value in a more natural, hands-on approach to science?”

Mirror Galadria stared up at them, lips parted, watching Hawke’s cock slide in and out of her dimensional double’s cunt. “I... this is highly irregular...”

“Irregular.” Galadria’s eyes rolled back as Hawke picked up his pace, the wet slap of skin on skin filling the room. “He fucks me every day. Multiple times. I wake up with his cum leaking out of me. I fall asleep with his cock still inside me. He is mine, and I am his. He loves me, and I love him. I am his future wife, and together we will have dozens of children, and all will look just like him, and I will love them for their likeness and worship every similarity. When he dies, I will kill myself, and we will be reunited in whatever lays beyond—and she shall make love to me there too, until the universe implodes.”

Hawke felt a little guilty that that unhinged rant just made him harder inside her.

Mirror Galadria’s breathing was getting heavier. Her hand drifted down between her own legs almost unconsciously, pressing against herself through her uniform pants.

“Do it. Touch yourself,” Galadria commanded. “Remove your remaining garments and touch yourself while you watch him breed me. And then it will be your turn—but only because you are me, and all versions of me must understand how good he is to me.”

Well, her motive was clear now, Hawke realized. The mirror version obeyed, shimmying out of her pants and underwear with an urgency that betrayed her arousal. Her pussy was bare and visibly wet, and her fingers found her clit immediately.

Hawke watched all of this while pounding into his Galadria from behind, her round ass jiggling with every thrust. The sight of two identical Vultarian women, one getting fucked and one masturbating while watching, was almost too much. The sound of her squelching cunt and her little reedy moans only added to the buffet of pleasure.

“Captain.” Galadria’s voice was strained. “I am going to cum. I want her to see. I want her to see what she could have if her captain were not such a cold, distant fool so that maybe she can tame him—or find her way back to us when the time is right.”

He grabbed a fistful of her platinum hair and pulled her head back, driving into her harder. She came with a sharp cry, her pussy clenching tight around him over and over. Below her, Mirror Galadria watched with wide eyes, fingers working frantically between her own legs.

“Your turn,” Galadria panted when her orgasm subsided. She pulled off of Hawke’s cock and rolled aside, gesturing at her counterpart. “Captain, show her what she has been missing. Put your cock inside her.”

Mirror Galadria spread her legs without hesitation. Whatever reservations she’d had were clearly ancient history now. “Please,” she said, and the desperation in her voice was jarring coming from a face so similar to his composed first officer. “I wish to understand what it is she knows about you.”

Hawke positioned himself between her thighs and pushed inside. She gasped, her hands flying up to grip his shoulders, nails digging in hard enough to leave marks.

“Oh.” Her voice came out strangled. “Oh, this is... the sensation is...”

“More pleasurable than anything you’ve experienced before,” Galadria finished for her. She lay on her side next to them, one hand lazily playing with her own nipple while she watched. “Supernatural, even. Our captain is exceptional. His cock was designed for this. Literally. The serum enhanced him in ways that make every thrust feel like nothing you have ever known. But even this physical pleasure pales against the joy of knowing his love.”

Hawke started moving, and Mirror Galadria’s composure shattered completely moments later. She moaned openly, eyes crossing, wrapping her legs around his waist, pulling him deeper and deeper and deeper. Her long hair was everywhere, tangled in the sheets, even sticking to her sweaty skin.

“Harder,” she demanded. “I require... I need...”

“He knows what you need, slut.” Galadria leaned in close to her counterpart’s ear. “He always knows. He will ruin you for any other partner. After this, you will never be satisfied with anyone else. That is how it should be. That is how I prefer it. I want every version of me in every reality to belong to my Captain. There will be no sexual domination as complete as mine throughout the history of the multiverse. This is the most logical way for me to process my overwhelming devotion to my captain, I’m sure you’d agree.”

Mirror Galadria’s eyes went wide at that. “That is... an extreme sentiment.”

“When it comes to Captain Hawke, I will endure any judgment.” Galadria’s hand slid down to where Hawke and her counterpart were joined, fingers finding Mirror Galadria’s clit. “Now cum for him. Cum on his cock like a good little Vultarian slut, you lesser version. Cum knowing you deserve him—but not as much as I do. Cum.”

The crude words from such a typically composed mouth seemed to push Mirror Galadria over the edge. She came hard, her whole body shaking, her cunt squeezing Hawke’s cock so tight he had to grit his teeth to hold back.

“Don’t stop, Captain,” Galadria instructed. “Finish her again. And again. I want to break her. I want to watch the intelligence fade from her eyes as she becomes just another vessel of pleasure devoted to you. That is the most logical outcome to pursue.”

Hawke wasn’t sure what logic meant anymore but he kept fucking the double through one orgasm and into the next one and then the next. Mirror Galadria was babbling now, a mix of nonsense words that even the universal translator couldn’t quite follow, her usual composure completely destroyed. His Galadria watched with dark satisfaction, occasionally leaning in to kiss her counterpart’s forehead or pinch her nipples or whisper things in her ear that made her gasp and clench tighter around him.

“This degree of—nyah!—sensation is—oomf!—highly illogical,” Mirror Galadria managed at one point, her back arching off the bed while Hawke drove into her and his Galadria sucked on one of her nipples. “I cannot comprehend why this feels so... so....”

“The word you’re looking for is ‘good,’” Hawke said, and she grabbed his hair with both hands just like his Galadria always did. “And I’ll happily take the compliment, Commander. I pride myself on my hospitality toward visiting officers.”

They took a quick shower and then switched positions after that. Hawke ended up on his back with his Galadria riding him reverse cowgirl, her ass bouncing in his face while Mirror Galadria straddled his face and he ate her pussy. His Galadria leaned forward to kiss her counterpart while she rode him, and the muffled sounds of their moaning filled the room.

Then Mirror Galadria was on all fours getting fucked from behind while his Galadria lay beneath her in a sixty-nine, licking Hawke’s balls worshipfully with every thrust he made. The mirror version came so hard she screamed at the top of her lungs, and his Galadria looked up at him with smug yet subtle look of Vultarian triumph all over her face.

“She is learning,” Galadria said, her counterpart’s juices glistening on her chin. “One more position, Captain. I want us to share you simultaneously.”

They ended up with one Galadria on top of the other, legs intertwined, their pussies pressed together. Hawke knelt between them and alternated, a few strokes in one and then a few in the other, back and forth while they writhed and moaned and occasionally kissed each other with desperate, sloppy urgency.

“I’m close,” he warned.

“Inside me,” his Galadria demanded immediately.

“That is unfair and illogical,” Mirror Galadria protested breathlessly. “Is this not for my education? I also wish to—”

“This is still my post, and my mission, not yours.” Galadria’s voice was sharp even while getting fucked. “His cum belongs inside me. Always.”

Mirror Galadria looked like she wanted to argue, but then Hawke showed his loyalty and shifted fully into his Galadria and started pounding her hard and fast, chasing his release. She came almost immediately, her pussy milking him, and that pushed him over the edge. He buried himself deep and emptied everything he had into her while she moaned his name. “Captain Hawke! Ohhh yes!”

When he finally pulled out, cum immediately started leaking from her well-fucked hole. Mirror Galadria stared at it, clearly envious.

“Perhaps,” Mirror Galadria said slowly, “just this once, I could...”

His Galadria’s hand shot out and grabbed her counterpart by the hair, pulling her down. “If you wish to taste him, you may clean me out.”

Hawke watched, dick twitching with renewed interest, as Mirror Galadria lowered her mouth to his Galadria’s pussy and started licking and sucking his cum out of her. His Galadria sighed contentedly, one hand still fisted in her counterpart’s long hair.

“I trust this has been educational,” she said, meeting Hawke’s eyes.

Mirror Galadria came up for air, her lips wet and shiny with pearlescent fluid. She looked dazed and thoroughly fucked, nothing like the cold officer who’d beamed aboard a couple hours ago. “My understanding of interdimensional relations has been significantly expanded.”

Hawke laughed. “Well, if nothing else, we all had fun. And that’s what matters.”

“Incorrect,” his Commander Rem said. “What matters is that the universe contains one more Galadria Rem devoted to Captain Hawke.”

“This experience is unlikely to inform my approach to Project Genesis research upon my return,” Mirror Galadria continued, still catching her breath. “My Captain Hawke is not as… lovable as yours. It has given me much to consider all the same.”

“A reasonable conclusion,” Galadria agreed. She had not released her grip on her counterpart’s hair.

Mirror Galadria turned her head to look at her dimensional double. “You are fortunate. I find myself... envious of your circumstances.”

“It is logical that you should envy me. My captain is exceptional in every way. He is my god.”

“That’s a bit much,” Hawke muttered, frowning a little.

“He is godlike indeed.” Mirror Galadria’s eyes shifted to Hawke. “If your universe ever develops interdimensional communication technology, I would not be opposed to further... collaborative encounters.”

Hawke wasn’t sure how to respond to that, so he just nodded.

His Galadria finally released her counterpart’s hair and smiled. Well not really a smile, barely there, but Hawke knew her well enough to recognize the deep sense of satisfaction in it. “You may tell your Captain Hawke that he is a fool for not taking advantage of the resources available to him. If he will not breed you properly, perhaps he does not deserve you.”

Mirror Galadria considered that for a long moment, then gazed into Hawke’s eyes intensely. “Only one Captain deserves me from now on.”

***

The mirror crew departed two hours later. Hawke felt a bit emptier to see Mirror Galadria leave, and so did his testicles.

They’d gathered their scan data and compiled their reports, and both vessels had enough information to keep their respective science divisions busy for months. The mystery of why both ships had appeared at the anomaly simultaneously remained unsolved, but they’d ruled out several possibilities and identified new avenues for investigation.

It was likely that their realities were self-correcting to address the divergence, Hawke had concluded. But he had a feeling he’d done some real damage to that cosmic effort today.

Mirror Galadria was the last to beam back to her ship. Before she stepped onto the transporter pad, she turned to look at Hawke and her counterpart.

“This has been an... illuminating experience,” she said. Her cold mask was back in place, but there was something softer in her eyes now when she looked at him. “I will remember it.”

“As will we,” Galadria replied.

The transporter beam took her, and she was gone.

Hawke returned to the bridge with Galadria at his side. The rest of his crew was already at their stations, back in their skimpy bikini uniforms now that the visitors had departed, which was a relief. Seeing them dressed so conservatively felt weird and out of place. On the viewscreen, the I.S.S. Brock Clayton hung near the anomaly, preparing to return to its own reality.

“They’re hailing us,” Moxie reported.

“On screen.”

Mirror Hawke appeared, mullet magnificent as ever. “Captain Hawke. It’s been a pleasure meeting you. I hope our data proves useful to your Star Force.”

“Likewise. Safe travels back to your reality.”

Mirror Hawke nodded, then paused. “For what it’s worth, my first officer seems... different since returning from your vessel. More contemplative, maybe. You certainly made an impression on her.”

Hawke kept his expression neutral. “Several impressions, no doubt.”

“Indeed.” Mirror Hawke’s eyes narrowed slightly, as if he was trying to figure out what he was missing. “Until we meet again, Captain. If we meet again.”

“Until then.”

The screen went dark, and Hawke watched through the viewscreen as the I.S.S. Brock Clayton turned and accelerated toward the anomaly. The mirror shard pulsed with light as the ship passed through, and then the vessel was gone, leaving only empty space and a wormhole behind.

Hawke stood slowly from his chair and turned to face his crew. They were all watching him, waiting for him to say something profound about what they’d just experienced. 

“You know,” he said, “I think we showed them something important today. Their reality is darker than ours. More wild and violent. More controlled. But we demonstrated that there’s another way.” He paused, letting the weight of his words settle. “We showed them that connection matters. That intimacy can be a bridge between worlds, between species, between people who might otherwise never understand each other. Maybe that seed we planted will grow into something that changes their entire reality for the better.”

D’ala was nodding solemnly. Shayden had her arms crossed and looked almost moved. Moxie’s antennae were swaying gently.

Galadria stood beside his chair, straight-backed as ever. “A profound observation, Captain. Your dedication to spreading enlightenment across dimensional boundaries is admirable.”

“We’re explorers,” Hawke continued, really getting into the speech now. “And the greatest thing we can explore is the connection between beings, even those we were never meant to meet. Today we reached across the void between realities and I think we made a genuine impact. That’s what Star Force is about.”

He sat back down in his chair, feeling pretty good about the whole thing.

“Well said, sir,” D’ala grinned. “Very inspiring.”

“Thank you, Lieutenant. Everyone send me your logs at the end of the day—high command will want to be briefed.” He adjusted his uniform and pulled up the navigation display. “Now, let’s set a course for our next assignment. We’ve got a lot of universe left to explore.”

As the stars began to streak past on the viewscreen, Galadria leaned down to whisper in his ear.

“Captain, I believe tonight I will require additional attention to process my complex feelings about meeting my dimensional counterpart.”

Hawke nodded, stroking his chin thoughtfully. “Of course, Commander. Perhaps we can even include some of the cadets as well? They were quite miffed about being interrupted this morning.”

Galadria blinked only once. “An interesting notion. No.”

Well, it was a long shot to begin with.